Staff

INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR THE WINDSOR ZENE?

The Windsor Zene is a non-profit magazine. All money made from any advertising is put into the maintenance of the Zine, websites and other Windsor Zene related promotions. With that being said, volunteer positions ARE available!

We are more than willing to accept submissions from the following:

• Show reviews of live original acts performing in Windsor (local or national acts)
• Show reviews of Windsor acts performing elsewhere in Canada or the United States (or beyond!)
• CD Reviews of local music
• Photographs of local or national shows happening in Windsor
• Video of local or national musicians at local venues for inclusion on the YouTube channel
• Video of local musicians performing elsewhere in Canada or the United States for inclusion on the YouTube channel

All content will remain the copyright of the submitter and will be duly credited. Due to the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee that all or any freelance submissions will be used. Any submissions will be accepted as a donation to the Windsor Zene for the purposes of enhancing and promoting the local scene. Send any submissions to windsorzene@gmail.com

If you wish to be an official writer, photographer or videographer for the Windsor Zene, then all materials will become property of The Windsor Zene (but you will receive full credit for authorship). You will be entitled to all the benefits of the other staff members of The Windsor Zene (which essentially means we’ll make you a bio like the ones below, a Windsor Zene press pass to get into shows for free and maybe buy you a drink here and there). If you are interested in becoming an official staff member, send us a sample of your writing, photography or video work to windsorzene@gmail.com – please put in Subject line “Application for Staff”.

Cartoon of Jamie Greer (c) 2010 Spry Agency

JAMIE GREER, Co-Founder, C0-Editor, Writer, Photographer, Videographer

Jamie moved to Windsor in 1994 from Niagara Falls and immediately fell in love with the local music scene. His first foray into the scene was fronting the 70′s Detroit-style punk band TOAST under the moniker “Johnny Ten-Inch” from 1996-1999. It was at the tail end of TOAST’s run that he first created The Windsor Scene. As an outsider looking in, he was blown away by the sheer diversity of the local music scene and was amazed at the kindred spirit and affinity they all had amongst each other. The original Windsor Scene website, rudimentary at best, was initially created in late 1998, early 1999, as an on-line directory providing profile info on the local original bands toiling away at such venues as The Coach & Horses, Jimmy’s Pub and The Spotted Dog. By 2000, Greer was in a new band, the dark glam rock outfit Trailer Park Sex Cowboys, and The Windsor Scene evolved into more of an online magazine, with interviews and more info about upcoming shows. Following the demise of TPSC in 2002, Greer switched gears to an Outlaw country style band, founded with Kelly Nicholls (now in FourLetterWord) called The Hung Jury. Having now built a reputation as an archivist and dedicated follower of the local music community, Greer, a long time DJ at CJAM 91.5 FM (now 99.1 FM) was asked to start up a radio version of The Windsor Scene, in 2003. It lasted just over a year and won a JAMMY Award as Best New Show, before Greer moved to Victoria, BC for a one-year sabbatical. But although the radio show stopped, he still maintained the website while in British Columbia. Upon his return to Windsor in 2005, he re-started the Windsor Scene radio show on CJAM and won another JAMMY Award for Best Special Interest Program. Greer’s second run on the radio program lasted just under a year and by the summer of 2006, work and his own music pursuits led to him leaving the program. But The Windsor Scene remained on-air and, despite going through multiple hosts, remains a popular (and multiple JAMMY Award winning) staple in CJAM’s programming. Greer also moved The Windsor Scene into print form, beginning The Windsor Scene music column in Upfront Magazine, where Greer also became the magazine’s Music Editor. In 2006, Greer joined the Windsor music supergroup The Golden Hands Before God Conducts Incredible Magic Band & The Spirits, a collective of local musicians from such bands as itzjunk, Yellow Wood, Somatose, and The Tyres. The group’s psychedelic sound soon caught the ears of Edmonton indie label Pop Echo and in 2008, signed a deal to release their debut EP, Here, to critical acclaim. That year they played such prestigious Canadian music festivals as North By North West (NXNW), Pop Montreal and Halifax Pop Explosion, and sharing the stage with such bands as The Besnard Lakes, Young Galaxy, and The Inbreds. When Upfront Magazine moved to Ottawa, The Windsor Scene moved to upstart WAMM Magazine in 2008. With the unfortunate demise of The Golden Hands in early 2009, Greer formed the theatrical stoner rock outfit The Vaudevillianaires with former Big Daddy A & The Merves member Ted Dimoglou, and joined another collective with former Golden Hands bandmate Sean Barry, Magic Hall of Mirrors. Following a departure from WAMM Magazine in early 2010 (where The Windsor Scene was taken over by future Windsor Zene partner, Murad Erzinclioglu), he briefly wrote for The Windsor Star’s SCENE Page, before turning attention to his own musical projects. He has since joined Eric Welton as a live percussionist (something he’s also provided as a guest performer for such bands as Yukon Blonde, Square Root of Margaret, The Schomberg Fair, ASK, The Locusts Have No King, and many more) and most recently, joined various local musicians in the improv jam ensemble, Star Trek: The Band. In late 2010, he was the Head Organizer for the hugely successful FunnelFest benefit music festival to raise money to help Scott Funnell, local musician and manager of the Coach & Horses, following an incident that left him severely injured and unable to work. The local music scene is something that is now deeply entrenched in Greer’s blood and something that has not only been his livelihood but his undying passion.

Cartoon of Murad Erzinclioglu (c) 2010 Spry Agency

MURAD ERZINCLIOGLU, Co-Founder, Co-Editor, Writer, Photographer

Coincidentally enough, Windsor Zene co-founder Murad Erzinclioglu also originally hails from the Niagara region, calling Welland home. Moving here for University several years ago, Murad became immersed in the arts and music culture of Windsor’s independent underground had to offer. Friends with local artists like Daniel (Denial) Bombardier and film makers Benjamin Young-Hart, plus attending local music shows, exposed him to the sheer range of diversity and talent found throughout Windsor’s artistically minded individuals. In the cold of winter 2007, Murad and Young-Hart launched Windsor’s biggest (and most ambitious) independent arts & music festival since GreenArtsFest in the late 1990′s – Harvesting The FAM Festival. Combining Film-making, Art and Music (F.A.M.) into one communal celebration, and featuring principally local Windsor-Essex talent from all three areas, it’s first festival, held at the University of Windsor, was a personal and artistic triumph, not just for Murad but for Windsor’s homegrown creative talents. The second FAM Festival, still at the University, was thrown in the Fall of that year and proved to be a little hastily done. More timing was needed and it was decided FAM would return annually instead. Taking a full year off to plan the event, FAM’s third incarnation returned in the Fall of 2008, this time switching the focus of the festival from the University to downtown, where local businesses were transformed into art galleries, restaurants became film screening rooms and the area’s venues that nurtured and encouraged these local bands and musicians became their grandest stage, all to spotlight the impressive congregation of creative talents sown right here in Windsor-Essex. That tradition has continued to this day, and it made the Top 30 for CBC Radio 3‘s Top Festivals in Canada Spotlight Contest in 2010, becoming Ontario’s biggest multi-arts festival. He has also been a long time electronic DJ and creator under the guise of (WH)Y.M.E.(??) and longtime CJAM 99.1 FM Producer, hosting the Monday show Productive Confusion from 2:30-4pm. In 2010, Murad became the new Music Director for CJAM 99.1 FM, Windsor’s Community Campus Radio Station that broadcasts out of the University of Windsor, deepening his connection to the  nation’s musical pulse while remaining firmly rooted in Windsor’s own musical tapestry. The year 2010 also saw Murad expand his musical resume, joining the bands Surdaster and Star Trek: The Band. He lives with a cat named Pumpkin and is quite good at button-mashing combat video games that may or may not involve Mortal Kombat vs. DC Super Heroes.

LAUREN HEDGES, Administrator, Contributor

Lauren Hedges grew up in Amherstburg, about thirty minutes outside of Windsor. While attending General Amherst High School she frequented local shows at The Academy for the Arts in Amherstburg and Club 1214 on Drouillard Rd in Windsor. While in school Lauren excelled in communications technology, directing, animating, and editing a music video for Windsor’s metal heavy-hitters, Lodown. She also spent a fair amount of time working on the school radio club and tech support team. This lead to her leaving Essex County in favour of London where she attended The Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology. While in school she studied under Juno Engineer of the Year winner for 2010, Dan Brodbeck, and had the chance to work with various acts such as AFallenHero (London), Jeff Cunningham (Collingwood), The Fine Print (London), Toast (Toronto), Single Mothers (London), and Gone4Daze (Burlington). Lauren also helped run numerous live shows in London, including Bluesfest International, working alongside Keith Hotchkiss to run the stage for acts like Foghat and Gord Downie. After returning to Amherstburg, she quickly took up residence at CJAM 99.1 FM, starting The Canadian Jam where she played music from across the country, focusing on tracks recorded, mixed, and mastered in the great white north, and the engineers responsible. This went so well, that by January she was moved up to be the new host of The Windsor Scene, where you can currently catch her every Wednesday evening from 5 until 6:30. Right now Lauren is working with local filmmaker Gavin Michael Booth, handling the audio needs of some of his productions, periodically running the sound boards at FM Lounge and The Loop, and helping local metal act Betrayer with the sound at their shows. She also writes for the news blog WindsoriteDOTca, providing readers with photos and reviews of shows happening around Windsor and other arts events in the community.

ASH RICHTIG, Administrator, Contributor

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, I moved to Windsor in search of better opportunities in 1999.  Since then, I have made a point of becoming involved in the local music scene, forming the punk/metal outfit The Heatseeking Moisture Missiles in 2005, filling the role of drummer/writer.  Most recently I have joined the ranks of hardcore/punk band Repetitions as bassist, and founded stoner rock group NeanderTHRALL, as drummer.  Over the past few years I have realized that Windsor’s music scene is as good or better than any other music scene in Canada, and have gladly immersed myself in the promotion of local musical talent.  What I hope to bring to the Windsor Zene is a collection of reviews, including both live shows and professionally recorded albums and demos.  And of course, whatever else comes my way!

Adam D’Andrea, Reviews CDs

D’Andrea was born and raised in Windsor and gained an interest in music very early in life. By the age of 10 he realized he was bad at virtually every sport, a characteristic that should have made him wildly unpopular among his peers. However, Adam then did the next best thing and took up playing drums and (eventually) teaching himself guitar. He started attending local shows at the Gino A. Marcus Centre when he was 13, and began playing for local punk bands when he was 15. Throughout high school he played for several Windsor punk bands, most notably False Hopes and Lot 9 Brawl. After high school, Adam spent a few years playing in cover bands but still remained connected with Windsor’s punk scene. In September 2010, Adam began playing drums and singing for local death ska outfit The Nefidovs, and has been doing so ever since. In addition to playing for The Nefidovs, Adam is currently taking Journalism at St. Clair College while finishing up a degree in History and Political Science from the University of Windsor.

Oh, and he’s really really good at Rock and Roll Jeopardy.

ADAM CRAIG, Writes Stuff

You don’t realize what you’ve got until it’s gone. Or until you move a couple hundred kilometers away. Until the last year or so, I’ve had what could only be called a ‘tenuous’ relationship with the Windsor scene. There were things that I loved very deeply about the city, and things which from time to time would make my skin crawl and leave the slightest taste of vomit in my mouth. And that’s more or less changed for the better now.Having relocated in late 2009 to London to pursue an education in the fine art of librarianship, there began a slow-burn of longing for the city and region which I had called home. I don’t know how familiar this readership is with London and it’s arts community, but I think the best way to describe it would be as a ‘vacuum’ or possibly a black hole. Aside from the occasional touring act coming through Call the Office or the APK, London has very, very little to offer in terms of entertainment.Relocating again to Mississauga meant plunging further into banality, where the only semblance of entertainment came in the form of watching pedestrians get splashed by a horribly ineffective public transit system. I’m serious. For the arts, Mississauga is a trough of waste set on fire and then put out with the liquid produced by skunk’s asses.All of this points to one thing: a new and deeper appreciation of Windsor, the support structure set in place there to foster new musicians and artists, and the vibrancy of the scene. Yeah, I said it: vibrancy. There is no shortage of music being produced that is certainly not my cup of tea, but if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my old age, it’s that music you don’t like is better than no music at all. And that any independent scene is worth supporting.

As this is a ‘bio’, I should probably do some of the traditional ‘bio’ things: I’ve been playing in bands around town for at least ten years. The only two worth really remembering have been Measured in Angles and Poughboy, as a drummer and vocalist respectively. Both of those bands were heavily and graciously supported by people on ‘the scene’. Measured put out a couple of albums, did a little light touring and then disintegrated before it got boring. Insert pheonix metaphor here and then Poughboy happened, with three quarters of MIA among its ranks.

This current group/atrocity put out two albums that a handful of people really liked and have a third, comprised of a download and book package on the way.

I’m also a librarian, husband and have more than a passing interest in graphic design, prose and rock and roll history. That’s really all that I have to say about that.

DEL REES, Interviewer

Interviewer: "Rees' Pieces"

Having grown up in Sudbury, way up in Northern Ontario, I have basically been searching my whole life for a place to call home. Sudbury has its good and bad moments but most people my age who live there say there isn’t much to do. When the opportunity came to move to Windsor in August of 2010, I sold or got rid of most of my belongings and travelled down here in a Kia Sportage that contained two suitcases, two cats, and a couple of great books, hoping like hell Windsor would be an improvement on Sudbury. The night I arrived, sometime at about 2 am, I took one look at the Detroit skyline off Riverside and knew this place was different. Culturally and musically rich, though economically devastated. I have since called Windsor my home and have taken every opportunity possible to explore the local music scene, which never fails to surprise and enlighten me at the same time. I have formed some very strong bonds with local musicians who I now consider to be my friends and family, and I can truly say I’m here to stay. As an interviewer for The Windsor Zene, my objective is to ask the questions that matter the most, and the ones that matter the least. Be prepared, because as an animal lover, I may just ask you about your cat or dog! I have always subscribed to the belief that freedom of speech is SO important. In this day and age, people are punished for stating their opinion… but music seems to be a great loophole for that! As Dr. Seuss famously quoted:  ’Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.’

JAMES STEINGART, Contributor

Hello all, I am excited to be part of the staff here at The Windsor Zene as a contributing writer.  Music is my life so write what you know, right?  My whole life (that’s not really exaggerating) I’ve always thought about, wrote, played, listened and adored music.  And whether or not it’s an arena show, club show, dive bar setting, basement party, it really doesn’t matter to me.

got into the business of music journalism in 2004 when Windsor’s independent mag Upfront Magazine gave me the opportunity to be thier official music writer.  That was an exciting time for me because not only did I have my dream job, I also met some incredible musicians and it’s always gratifying to sincerely and genuinely praise them for just how great they really are.

As well as putting pen to paper or fingertips to buttons, I am a bassist in the Dented Halos which is a work in progress and I hope to get back on the stage with that sometime soon.  I’ve also played in an anti-establishment type punk band called the Reagan Eighties which lasted a year in 2009, playing a few shows.  I have one EP under my belt that I wrote and recorded in 2008, titled The Unkle Skelly Project.

That all brings me to where I am right now.  I look forward to seeing all the local area musicians and scenesters (or zenesters) out on the streets and inside the clubs.

CLARISSA GUYTON, Contributor

Clarissa Guyton is a 4th year Bachelor of Social Work student with a minor in Psychology at the University of Windsor. She enjoys spending her free time networking in the local entertainment scene and is an active promoter and supporter of the Windsor Hip Hop scene. She has written for several publications in the past including HipHopCanada.com, WindsorHipHop.com, Upfront Magazine, The Lance, and more. She started out working alongside the well-known DJ Needle 9:14 doing photography and promotions for Windsor Hip Hop and went on to work with the group Academy and more specifically, the legendary Kayyce Closed. Currently, she organizes a regular Hip Hop Spotlight at The Coach & Horses and volunteers her time assisting local hip hop artists in promotions and professional writing for biographies, press kits, etc.

JON LIEDTKE, Contributor

Jon Liedtke

Attending the University of Windsor for History and Political Science, acting as the current co-chair of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee in Windsor, and being a member of a local band, The Nefidovs, I am committed and engaged to connect the youth, arts, and cultural sectors of the city!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRAIG McKENZIE

Craig listens to CDs. And reviews them.